Strand with Sky 1916

Francis Dodd’s etching captures a moment of urbanity, dominated by the looming presence of a church, framed by the stark lines of the Strand. The spire, a symbol of aspiration, points towards the heavens, echoing similar structures that have punctuated cityscapes since the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages. Consider the obelisk-like form - from ancient Egyptian sun symbols to Christian steeples, this shape transcends cultures, consistently representing a connection between the earthly and divine. Even in our secular age, the spire retains a psychological resonance, a silent testament to humanity's yearning for something beyond our immediate grasp. The church’s solid architecture evokes a sense of permanence, yet the scaffolding hints at continuous change, repair, and reinterpretation. This interplay reminds us that even the most steadfast symbols are subject to the currents of time, perpetually reconstructed in the collective memory.